Wyndham’s new award chart is now in effect. All Wyndham Rewards participating hotel properties now cost 15,000 points.
They’ve rolled back the price increases of the past two years for the top end hotels and nearly tripled the price of the least expensive hotels.
Wyndham is a large chain, with properties clustered at the lower end. They’re closer in size to Hilton, Marriott, and IHG than they are to Hyatt and Starwood. There are a limited number of top-end properties where this change will be of benefit, but for those it looks like a real win — while it won’t be much of a win for those who look for points to use at Baymont Inns and Days Inn properties.
However for the next six months Wyndham Visa cardholders get the best of both worlds — reduced top end pricing and access to the formerly cheaper low end pricing.
Via Doctor of Credit, existing Wyndham Rewards Visa cardholders can continue to redeem under the old award chart through November 3 if they wish.
To take advantage of Free Night Stays from May 11, 2015 through November 03, 2015, please call our Member Services Team at 1-800-262-1923 for more information. This exclusive ‘Best of Both Worlds’ redemption option is available to you through November 03, 2015, after which time Wyndham Rewards may only be redeemed under the program rules then in effect.
Here’s the old award chart:
Also via Doctor of Credit, the Wyndham Rewards Visa is now offering 45,000 points as a signup bonus:
Earn 30,000 bonus points with first purchase. Plus, earn an additional 15,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 within the first 90 days of account opening.
The card earns 2 points per dollar spent, so $7500 spend on the card is enough for a top tier Wyndham redemption. But consider that there’s a limited number of top end properties in the program. Still, not a bad deal for places like the Wyndham Rio Mar in Puerto Rico (formerly a Westin).
Wyndham Grand Rio Mar, Puerto Rico
The signup bonus is enough for 3 free nights, and the card comes with 15,000 bonus points on renewal each year so enough for a free night. That card’s annual fee is $69.
Unfortunately it does not appear that signing up for the card now would give you access to your choice of award charts, that seems to be only for pre-existing cardmembers. It will be interesting to see if that restriction holds in practice.
After many emails and calls to Barclay I was told they are not honoring the 15,000 at renewal for existing card members. I got the card about 2 months. I have the $69 annual fee. They are saying I will only get 5500 at renewal not the 15,000 like people are receiving now when they apply.
I would have kept it for sure had I been offered 15K moving forward for the annual fee of $69. That’s not to say that next year they won’t give it to me as a retention offer but for now they are telling me that existing customers with the card that did not apply under new offer will only get 5500.
They are foolish to only give 5,500 renewal points to their most loyal members who have the old card. They are encouraging us to cancel the card when it comes up for renewal. I used to use mine for stays at the “less aspirational’ hotels which have now become MUCH more expensive. Probably when my card comes up for renewal in January, it’s Adios!
Wyndham told me that existing cardholders will get the 15k anniversary bonus, so I think you’ve just been told the incorrect information by frontline representatives.
I hope there is better communication between Wyndham and Barclay on this. The last rep I spoke to opened a case which was going to their marketing team to get clarification. It only makes sense to do this.